SEVERINO HEADS TO CALI

Hold onto your hats, folks—Luis Severino is heading to the West Coast, and the Oakland Athletics are picking up the tab! That’s right, the A’s—the A’s—have signed Severino to a three-year, $67 million deal.  But wait, there’s more: the deal includes an opt-out after 2026, because why not give Severino the ability to bail once he’s back to being an ace? It’s not like the A’s have commitment issues or anything.

Ah, Severino. Remember 2017 and 2018? Those were the days—back-to-back All-Star appearances, a blazing fastball, and a swagger that screamed “future Cy Young winner.” He was the guy you wanted on the mound when everything was on the line. Yankee fans wore his jersey with pride, imagining years of dominance ahead.

Then came the injuries. First, it was a lat strain in 2019. Then came Tommy John surgery in 2020, and by the time 2021 rolled around, Severino was practically living on the IL. He made a modest comeback in 2022 but stumbled through 2023 with the Mets on a one-year, $13 million “show us you’re not broken” deal. Spoiler: he kind of looked broken.

And what did the Yankees do? Did they roll the dice on the guy who once electrified their rotation? Nope! They packed his bags, called him an Uber, and probably threw in a fruit basket for good measure. I always felt like the Yanks gave up on Severino too soon.  He did OK with the Mets, and now he's headed west.  The A’s, fresh off a relocation to Sacramento, decided they needed a headliner for their new rotation. So, they did something completely out of character: they spent money. Real money.

Let’s not mince words here: $67 million for Severino is a flex, especially for a franchise that usually treats “free agent spending” like it’s a dirty phrase. This is the same team that probably still has vending machines that only take nickels.

But hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. The A’s needed to make a splash, and Severino, injury history and all, is considered a big one to them, I think. The opt-out after 2026? That’s just the cherry on top of this gamble sundae.

For Severino, this is a fresh start. The A’s are hoping he’ll return to form and lead their rotation into their Sacramento era. For Severino, it’s a chance to show the Yankees and maybe the Mets (alittle) that he’s still got it.

And for us Yankee fans... me especially? Well, they’ll have a front-row seat to watch Severino prove giving him up too soon wrong.

So, here’s to Luis Severino: the Yankees’ former ace, the Mets’ temporary project, and now the Athletics’ $67 million bet. If he returns to glory, don’t say I didn’t warn you, Yankees fans.